Blunt secures funding for JVIC, regional projects

U.S. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, 7th District, secured the funding for the center and five research projects in the 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, approved Dec. 22.

The bill provides $4.4 million to complete the $12 million first phase of converting the old MFA mill into JVIC for nanotechnology research.

JVIC will house Missouri State University’s Center for Applied Science and Engineering and the school’s private-sector research partners, which so far includes Brewer Science, Crosslink and Nantero Inc. MSU and city officials broke ground for the center Nov. 29.

The three JVIC research programs will receive a total of $14.4 million in funding through the bill.

Brewer Science will be given $4.5 million for its work with MSU to design new materials for Micro Electric Mechanical Systems. The systems currently are packaged in older materials, and the research is expected to identify better packaging to advance MEMS technology.

Fenton, Mo.-based Crosslink Polymer Research will receive $2.87 million next year for its research work with MSU on polymer systems. Researchers are developing self-decontaminating fabrics that resist exposure to chemical and biological warfare agents.

Nantero and MSU will gain $7 million to continue research to develop a new, fast radiation-hardened random access memory chip. The technology would be used to protect electrical systems in space applications in the event of a nuclear strike.

Two Joplin research projects also will receive funding next year.

The bill will provide $7 million to Gestalt LLC to continue monitoring military computer systems for efficiency. Blunt secured $3.8 million for the company last year.

Eagle Picher in Joplin will receive $1.4 million to conduct research on thin film battery development. The batteries would add new capabilities in military weapons design.

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